What do you pay for as a parent vs. what you require your teen to pay for? Makeup, body scrubs and other

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will pay for needs, not wants. So skincare, yes. Anything for zits, yes. Body spray? No.* And wait for your kid to claim they "need" makeup for their "mental health" and to "feel good about themselves." They can babysit or get a job for their mental health.

*We actually don't allow cologne, perfume, or body sprays regardless of who buys them.

You sound fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I might buy my tween an occasional treat, but in my view that's what her allowance, birthday, and Christmases are for. Especially since they seem to feel entitled to high-end products at a young age.

This. She’s getting a $50 cleansing balm for Christmas, but that’s not something I’d buy her normally. Kids these days want all the high end stuff. What happened to teens buy drugstore make up?? No one wants cover girl anymore…

[Anonymous]

I pay for anything hygiene-related; they can choose the brand as long as it's something reasonable I can buy at Target or drug stores. Cosmetics and anything higher end comes out allowance or bday money, or as gifts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I might buy my tween an occasional treat, but in my view that's what her allowance, birthday, and Christmases are for. Especially since they seem to feel entitled to high-end products at a young age.

Same.

this is my approach too. i will pay more for items that are dr recommended (like acne face washes, etc.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I buy normal brands. If they want something fancier they can pay the difference, or ask as a gift. Between allowance and gift money they have plenty so it’s not a hardship for them to pay. This teaches them value and opportunity cost. They used to be obsessed with Lululemon and had to pay the difference. They very quickly decided that Nike and Aerie are just fine! This is an important life skill.

100% agree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are boys. They do not care what type of soap, shampoo, hair gel they use.
I do care. I love things that smell nice and I like it when my kids smell nice, especially when I'm in a small car with them.
So I pay for nicer shower gels and hair products and they just use it because, like I said, they really don't care what they use.

Growing up, my parents would buy Dove bar soap and whatever random least expensive shampoo there was at Costco and I was free to use that. Toothpaste too.
So they provided those things, but only brands/types they chose.

I have very curly/frizzy hair so I always wanted a better shampoo, and had to pay for that out of money I earned babysitting. Same with any makeup, shower products beyond the dove soap (so if I wanted a scrub or lotion or anything) etc.

This is essentially my approach. If my kid wants body wash instead of bar soap or whatever and it's equivalent in price that's NBD, but it has to be in the same brand range.

[Anonymous]

I pay for shampoo, bodywash, face lotion, face wash, razors, scrub brushes, and proper pimple skin care products (I like Paula's choice).

She pays for fancy body lotions, makeup, any other novelty skin care serums etc. Though at one point I told her if she's using all these serums and potions (which make her skin worse) I'm not paying for the Paula's choice care upgrade.

[Anonymous]

My 14 yo seems to want nothing. She has good hygiene (showering, deodorant, etc.) but very basic. So I buy a few things and place them in her room. Same as my mom did for me. When she is ready, I think she will try them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just pay for most of it unless it is like a 60 dollar face cream.

Op here. Yes, this price range is within the Sephora/Ulta territory she is interested in and I am realizing now. While some are $20/30 others are upwards of $50/60/70 etc..

You get those more expensive things for your birthday or Christmas, or you save up your own money.

This.

I make do with drugstore brands. My kid can, too . Exception is for curly hair styling products; different brands work for us, so I buy for both of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will pay for needs, not wants. So skincare, yes. Anything for zits, yes. Body spray? No.* And wait for your kid to claim they "need" makeup for their "mental health" and to "feel good about themselves." They can babysit or get a job for their mental health.

*We actually don't allow cologne, perfume, or body sprays regardless of who buys them.

You sound fun.

I’m their parent, not their friend.

[Anonymous]

Yikes. I pay for everything, of course.

[Anonymous]

OP, the "what" is much more important than "the how" things are paid for. Imo. We never gave allowance but as kids came to us wanting money for something, we'd ask, "for what?". And we'd have a discussion. The discussion seemed more significant than whether or not they ended up buying the item.

They had summer jobs starting at 16, so it was just easier for that portion to be considered their money, under their control. For that age and limited amount of money, not as sure what they spent it on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will pay for needs, not wants. So skincare, yes. Anything for zits, yes. Body spray? No.* And wait for your kid to claim they "need" makeup for their "mental health" and to "feel good about themselves." They can babysit or get a job for their mental health.

*We actually don't allow cologne, perfume, or body sprays regardless of who buys them.

You sound fun.

I’m their parent, not their friend.

How trite. GL with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Growing up my parents provided basic shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, razors and soap. Literally anything else (scented lotion, face wash, more expensive hair products) came out of my allowance/babysitting money. High-end bath/skincare products make excellent Christmas/birthday gifts and you are spoiling your child if you just buy her these as maintenance products.

+1. And I can spot the spoiled teens a mile away by their behavior. They are so clueless and out of touch. The stuff that comes out of their mouths! It’s not a good look and is setting them up for a life of disappointment unless the parents want to subsidize for life.

A teen who has scented body wash paid for by a parent is "spoiled"? LOL. Ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Growing up my parents provided basic shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, razors and soap. Literally anything else (scented lotion, face wash, more expensive hair products) came out of my allowance/babysitting money. High-end bath/skincare products make excellent Christmas/birthday gifts and you are spoiling your child if you just buy her these as maintenance products.

+1. And I can spot the spoiled teens a mile away by their behavior. They are so clueless and out of touch. The stuff that comes out of their mouths! It’s not a good look and is setting them up for a life of disappointment unless the parents want to subsidize for life.

A teen who has scented body wash paid for by a parent is "spoiled"? LOL. Ok.

Pretty sure pp meant the teens who are like "ew, drugstore skin care. I only use Drunken Elephant." Or insert whatever product influencers are being paid to push on clueless teens. Look at the Christmas gift thread and all the fancy brands kids want.